Unprofessional by JD Hawkins
Release Date: March 22nd
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Designer: Letitia Hasser from RBA Designs
Model: Christian Hogue
Blurb
I have the best job in the world. Date beautiful women and write about it.
But I want to take it to the next level: instead of writing about my experiences make it into an online reality show.
But here is the catch. My boss wants me to share the show with a woman co-host. And he wants that woman to be my best friend and co-worker, Margo.
I’ll date beautiful women and she’ll date hot men. Sounds fair enough.
So now I have to watch her fake date hot men. I used to love going home with a different woman every night, but suddenly this isn’t as fun. Seeing Margo with anyone else is driving me crazy.
And the more time I spend with her working on the show, the less I want to keep our relationship in the friends’ zone. And the harder it is to stop myself from imagining her bent over the copier.
Things are about to get unprofessional.
No, I am not sure how this happened.
This is not the first time I have heard of him, or the first book by Mr. Hawkins I have heard of that interested me...so no idea really how this is the first one I have read. That said, it will not be the last.
The writing is clean and crisp. The word choice feels precise. I think, because he is a new author to me, this is something I noticed more than I would with an author I am more familiar with, as each author has a style and you definitely can recognize it from book to book.
The plot is tight, and it is evenly paced. It is written in the dual POV of Margo and Owen and the balance of who is telling the story feels even, as if you are getting a 50/50 glimpse into the characters, so the character development is also balanced.
I liked the supporting characters. Sometimes, it feels like they are a distraction, but in this book they added to the story and gave the characters and the relationship additional depth. The glimpse into the people in Owen's life, the reason he is so reluctant to commit to a relationship, was especially interesting. I liked the fact that this was addressed, and while not necessarily resolved, it was explored as it made Owen's change to someone who wanted a committed relationship believable.
This is a combination of an office romance and a friends to lovers, and I really liked the way this played out in the story. I think because, while there was a concern that they may be risking their jobs, the risk to the friendship was front and center. As I have a male best friend (who is also an ex) I really related to the fear that once that line was crossed, there was so much to lose.
I liked Margo and Owen. I believed that they genuinely liked and cared for one another. There were little details, the daily kindness you show someone who is part of your life, that were present in their relationship as friends. And, I found myself very invested in their relationship, wanting it to work out, and wanting that friendship to survive either way...even though I knew as this is a romance and they were heading for their HEA.
And, when that HEA arrived, I believed that too.
I definitely recommend this book...and I will be reading the other titles by Mr. Hawkins.
This wasn't my first JD Hawkins book but it is easily my new favorite! It had several aspects to it that I liked-the friends to lovers, the co-workers having a relationship and I thought the premise was fun. I loved how it all played out.
I like friends to lovers books because I'm always fascinated to see established relationships move to the next level. The characters already know each other's likes and dislikes and it's fascinating to me watching them navigate a new level of relationship. That definitely played a part in my instant like of this book.
I loved the dual POV in this book. Sometimes I wonder if a male author can really pull off a female voice in a romance-and vice versa honestly-but JD Hawkins pulled it off beautifully. The switching of POV was seamless to me and truly allowed me to get into both character's headspace.
I connected to Margo and to Owen. I believed in their friendship and I believed in their relationship. There were things that made me laugh and things that made me sigh. I'm a big fan of a book being able to do both of those things. If I could be a secondary character in a JD Hawkins book I'd pick this one. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Margo and Owen's life-but reading about it was a close second.
If you haven't read JD Hawkins before this would be a great book to start with. The writing flowed so easily and I fell so far into the story that I didn't want it to end-even though I read it in one sitting. I recommend this book.
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EXCERPT:
“You know, you’re really fucking hot,” she slurs, giggling. My cock stirs at the brush of her lips so close to my neck, her warm breath against my skin. I have to shake it off.
“And you’re really fucking drunk,” I reply with a forced laugh, as the key finally catches and I kick the door open.
“No…I mean it,” she says as I step into her apartment, still holding her in my arms. “You’re like…the most beautiful man.”
“That’s very sweet of you,” I say, as I open a few wrong doors (closet, bathroom) until I find her bedroom. I walk in and lay her down on the bed, then pull away, setting her bag on the night table. “You should probably just rest a bit, let it pass.” I unlace her boots and ease them off gently, setting them on the floor before straightening up to go. This feels familiar, although I haven’t carried a too-drunk Margo home from a party and put her to bed since our undergrad years. “You need anything? Water, or—”
“Yeah.” Margo smiles.
“What?”
Instead of answering, she mischievously beckons me closer. I look at her, dress rolling up around her thighs, twisting her body up in the sheets, my imagination starting to whirl a little.
“Come here!” she yelps impatiently.
This could mean trouble—the problem is, I like trouble. I groan and go nearer to the bed.
“Closer,” she giggles, and I’m taken with the smile, the way she grinds into the bed…
“What?”
Her hand pulls on my shirt, her smile goes and instead her mouth is open now, weakened like she’s preparing to kiss me. I could so easily fall into her here, so easily bring my mouth onto hers, put my own hands under her clothes. I can almost taste her, appetite stirring…
Except being a real man doesn’t just mean knowing when to make a move, it also means knowing when you shouldn’t.
“Nice try,” I say, pulling back.
Margo laughs and pounds her fists onto the bed with disappointment.
“But I need to see what’s under your shirt. You still got those Grand Canyon abs, I bet.”
“Ok. That’s my cue to go,” I say, half-out the door. “See you tomorrow.”
“No! Come on! Please! I remember the view was fucking amazing. Just a little peek. A tiny little peek for old time’s sake. Come on, Owen! Don’t be an asshole. You know you want to show it off.”
I look back at her, hand on the doorknob, and find myself laughing.
“Happy now?” I say, pulling up my shirt a little way.
Margo screams and falls back onto her pillows laughing.
“I knew it! Just as perfect as that night you got locked out of the girl’s dorm,” she says, as I close the door and leave.
When I get back to my car, I’m still smiling.
About the Author:
JD Hawkins writes erotic romance with modern-classic alpha males and strong, independant women. He currently lives with his wife in Los Angeles, CA. He loves to travel and has lived in many places, including New York City, India and Thailand. When he isn't writing, JD enjoys surfing, training in Mixed Martial Arts, reading and taking naps. He's always loved making up stories, especially ones inspired by real life.
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